System and apparatus for managing tasks

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a plurality of selectable commodity items, detect one or more selections from the plurality of commodity items, generate a list from the one or more commodity items selected, and transmit the list to a system. The system can be adapted to receive the list from the communication device, determine a selection order for the items in the list based on a location of each item in a store and at least one characteristic of at least one of the items, update the list according to the selection order, and transmit the updated list to a device for conducting commodity shopping according to the adjusted list. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/851,066, filed Aug. 5, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/275,702 filed Nov. 21, 2008, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to communication techniques andmore specifically to a system and apparatus for managing tasks.

BACKGROUND

In today's busy environment, it is common to forget tasks or items ofnecessity. Some consumers rely on habits and routines to help themremember food items while grocery shopping. Other consumers who relyless on memory create a written list of food items before they go to thegrocery store. Yet other consumers use more sophisticated techniquessuch as a calendar application to generate notices to manage and itemizetasks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withthe communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceoperating according to the method of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a system having acontroller to receive a grocery list from a communication device of auser, identify a location in a store for each item in the grocery list,determine a selection order for the items in the grocery list based onthe identified location of each item, adjust the grocery list accordingto the selection order and the location of each item, and transmit theadjusted grocery list to a device in the store for conducting groceryshopping according to the adjusted grocery list.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail acomputer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to receivea grocery list from a communication device of a user, determine aselection order for the items in the grocery list based on a location ofeach item in a store, identify one or more promotions associated withitems on the grocery list, update the grocery list according to theselection order, the location of each item, and the one or morepromotions, and transmit the updated grocery list to a device forconducting grocery shopping according to the adjusted grocery list.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail acommunication device having a controller to present a user a pluralityof meal options, detect one or more selections by the user from theplurality of meal options, generate a grocery list from the one or moremeal options selected, and transmit the grocery list to a system. Thesystem can be adapted to receive the grocery list from the communicationdevice, determine a selection order for the items in the grocery listbased on a location of each item in a store, update the grocery listaccording to the selection order and the location of each item, andtransmit the updated grocery list to a device for conducting groceryshopping according to the adjusted grocery list.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a device havinga controller to receive a grocery list with a selection order for itemsin the grocery list and a location of each item in a store, receive aselection of an item in the grocery list, determine the location of theitem in the store, and present a user the item and one or morenavigation instructions to locate the item in the store.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail receiving a listof shopping items, determining a selection order for the items in theshopping list based on a location of each item in a store, updating thereceived list of shopping items according to the selection order and thelocation of each item, and transmitting the updated shopping list to adevice to shop for the items in the store according to the updated listof shopping items.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast mediasystem. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)110 with at least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 whichreceives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communicationsystems. In the present context, media content can represent audiocontent, moving image content such as videos, still image content, orcombinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forward packets associatedwith the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a networkof video head-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicastcommunication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). Theaccess network 114 can represent a group of digital subscriber lineaccess multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a servicearea interface that provide broadband services over optical links orcopper twisted pairs to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can use commoncommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone linewiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. Withthese interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between themedia processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system forservices such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130 a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or wirelesscommunication devices 116 by way of a wireless access base station 117operating according to common wireless access protocols such as WirelessFidelity (WiFi), or cellular communication technologies (such as GSM,CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on).

Another distinct portion of the computing devices 130 can represent agrocery management system (herein referred to as GMS 130) that managesgrocery shopping tasks for users as described in the flowchart of FIG.5. The GMS 130 can be accessed by any of the communication devices ofFIG. 1 (e.g., the STB 106, computer 108, cellular phone 116, etc.).

It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that asatellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dishreceiver 131 coupled to the building 102. Modulated signals interceptedby the satellite dish receiver 131 can be submitted to the mediaprocessors 106 for generating broadcast channels which can be presentedat the media devices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped witha broadband port to the ISP network 132 to enable infrastructureservices such as VoD and EPG described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast distributionsystem such as cable TV system 133 can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV system 133can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It follows from the above illustrations that the present disclosure canapply to any present or future interactive media content services.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200.employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS compliant communication devices(CD) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with at the HSS240. To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMSCD 201 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message toan originating P-CSCF 204 which communicates with a correspondingoriginating S-CSCF 206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries tothe ENUM system 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIPINVITE to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS compliant.

The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submita query to the HSS 240 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associatedwith a terminating IMS CD such as reference 202. Once identified, theI-CSCF 207 can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 214. Theterminating S-CSCF 214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216associated with the terminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 then signals theCD 202 to establish communications.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such asreferences 203 or 205, the ENUM system 230 can respond with anunsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout Gateway ControlFunction (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call to theterminating PSTN CD by common means over the PSTN network 260.

The aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly,the terms “originating” and “terminating” in FIG. 2 are interchangeable.It is further noted that communication system 200 can be adapted tosupport video conferencing by way of common protocols such as H.323. Inaddition, communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs201, 203 the multimedia and Internet services of communication system100.

The GMS 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the secondcommunication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 302 which canoperate from the computing devices 130 described earlier ofcommunication 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The portal 302 can be used formanaging services of communication systems 100-200. The portal 302 canbe accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internetbrowser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ using an Internet-capablecommunication device such as those described for FIGS. 1-2. The portal302 can be configured, for example, to access a media processor 106 andservices managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a VoDcatalog, an EPG, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures,audio recordings, etc.) stored in the media processor, provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, provisioning services of the GMS 130 discussedabove, and so on.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication 400 can serve in whole or in part as an illustrativeembodiment of the communication devices of FIGS. 1-2. The communicationdevice 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 402(herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, a power supply 414,a location receiver 416, a scanner 418, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, and next generation cellular wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, ornavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or aQwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include adisplay 410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technologyfor conveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. Inan embodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or allof the keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. TheUI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device100 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites,thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation. Thescanner 418 can utilize common barcode scanning technology for scanningan item with a barcode, and conveying the information to a fulfillmentsystem (such as a point of sale terminal) for purchasing a product. Thecontroller 406 can utilize computing technologies such as amicroprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a videoprocessor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM,DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative method 500 for managing grocery shoppingtasks. Method 500 can begin with step 502 in which a user enters groceryitems into a communication device 602 such as shown in FIG. 6. Thecommunication device 602 can be a cordless phone located in the home ofthe user. The communication device 602 can utilize DECT technology tocommunicate with a base unit 601 that couple to a PSTN or IMS network asshown in FIG. 2. The communication device 602 can also support WiFitechnology for communicating over the ISP network 132 of FIG. 1 by wayof the base unit 601.

The communication device 602 can present the user a UI such as reference604 by way of a touch-sensitive display. The user can select items fromthe UI 604 and enter alphanumeric characters with a Qwerty keyboardpresented in the display which can be invoked by selecting GUI button608. The UI 604 illustrates by way of example a task bar 606 entitled“Grocery List” which the user can select to enter in step 502 food itemsto develop a grocery list. While entering items, the grocery list can berecorded by the communication device 602 in step 504.

In step 506 the communication device 602 can retrieve a behavioralprofile of the user. The behavioral profile can describe for example theeating habits of the user (and others in his and her family). Thebehavioral profile can be determined from an analysis of historicalgrocery lists entered by the user. The communication device 602 can usethe behavioral profile to extract possible meal options which may beappetizing to the individual and his/her family. The meal options can beretrieved by the communication device 602 from a culinary library systemwhich can operate in one of the communication systems 100-200 of FIGS.1-2 or from a third party web service accessible over the ISP network132. The culinary library system can be accessed by the communicationdevice 602 over the WiFi interface of the base unit 601. The culinarylibrary system can utilize common expert system applications todetermine from the likes and dislikes of users which meals may beappetizing to the user. The culinary library system can also addressspecial dietary needs based on religious beliefs, health conditions orother special circumstances.

In step 510, the meal options extracted from the culinary library systemcan be presented by the communication device 602 on the grocery listtask bar 606 along with meals and grocery lists from previous weeks. Themeal options presented can include images of the proposed meal with aconcise description. The meal options can also show the probable cost ofthe meal per party. If the communication device 602 detects a selectionfrom the meal options in step 512, the communication device can proceedto step 514 where it can retrieve from the culinary library system arecipe for each meal selected. The communication device 602 in this stepcan query the user as to how many parties will partake in the meal.Based on the number of participants, and the recipe the communicationdevice 602 can generate additional food items for inclusion in thegrocery list. The grocery list can also be combined with the individualfood items entered in step 502.

In step 516 the user can submit the grocery list to the grocerymanagement system (GMS) 130 described earlier by selecting GUI button610. If the user does not make this selection, the communication device602 can continue to develop the user's grocery list as described bysteps 502-514. When communication device 602 detects that the user hasselected button 610, the communication device transmits the grocery listto the GMS 130 in step 518 by way of the ISP network 132. The GMS 130can be operated by a single grocery store to serve its patrons.Alternatively, the GMS 130 can serve a plurality of grocery stores whichmay be independently owned. In the present illustration it is assumedthat the GMS 130 is owned and operated by the same grocery store. It isfurther assumed that the GMS 130 is communicatively coupled to one ormore inventory systems of the grocery store which can provide locationinformation for each item placed in grocery store aisles and shelves.

With this in mind, the GMS 130 can be programmed in step 520 to identifythe location in the grocery store for each item in the grocery list. Thelocation can be described in any manner. For example the location can bedescribed by an aisle number and shelf location. In more sophisticatedapplications the location can be supplemented with GPS coordinates. Oncethe GMS 130 locates each item in the grocery store, the GMS can beprogrammed in step 522 to determine a selection order for the grocerylist to provide an efficient means for shopping the items listed. Inthis step, the GMS 130 can determine the selection order by distancetraveled and time spent grocery shopping by a person using the grocerylist. The selection order can also be determined according to the typeof food item to be purchased. For example, frozen items such as icecream can be relocated to the end of the grocery list to minimizeexposure time to ambient temperature. Frozen foods and perishable goodssuch as milk, orange juice and meats can also be moved to the end of thelist.

Once an order is selected, the GMS 130 can be programmed in step 524 toretrieve a behavioral profile of the user. The behavioral profile can bethe same as the one retrieved in step 506 by the communication device,or a different profile can be created by the GMS 130 from observationsof grocery shopping habits of the user. The GMS 130 can use thebehavioral profile to identify in step 526 suggestions, advertisements,coupons or promotions for updating the grocery list. The suggestions canrepresent additional food items not considered by the user.

The GMS 130 can for example track the last time the user shopped foreggs. If it's been more than a week and the GMS 130 detects that eggsare not in the grocery list, the GMS can suggest to the user that eggsmay be a desirable item. The suggestion can be combined with anadvertisement, coupon or promotion which may or may not be related tothe suggestion. For example, the coupon or advertisement may indicatethat a certain brand of eggs is selling according to a 2 for 1 discountpromotion. Or the advertisement may involve a food item such as sushibar meals which on prior occasions have been purchased by the user.

In step 528, the GMS 130 updates the grocery list according to theselection order identified in step 522 with the location of each item.In the same step, the grocery list can be updated with the suggestions,advertisements, coupons and/or promotions of step 526. The GMS 130 canthen transmit in step 530 the updated grocery list to a device. Thedevice can be a communication device located in the grocery store. Thecommunication device can represent a battery-powered barcode scannercommunicatively coupled to the GMS 130 by way of a common wired orwireless communication technology.

Step 530 can be invoked responsive to a signal received by the GMS 130from the barcode scanner indicating that the user (or an agent of theuser) is prepared to use the barcode scanner to engage in groceryshopping. An agent of the user can represent in the present context anemployee of the grocery store, or an employee of an agency that performsthe grocery shopping tasks for the user. The signal can be initiated bythe user/agent by entering a personal identification number (PIN) orsome other form of identification by way of the barcode scanner.

Once the GMS 130 programs the barcode scanner with the updated grocerylist in step 530, the user/agent can begin to conduct grocery shoppingin step 532. While shopping, the barcode scanner can provide the usernavigation instructions for each item in the grocery list. The barcodescanner can provide the instructions by way of a display (“Go to aisle10 to pick up rice. Rice is located half way in the aisle on the middleshelf”). Alternatively the barcode scanner can present the food itemusing speech synthesis. If the barcode scanner has a GPS receiver whichcan operate within the grocery store, the navigation instructions can beeven more precise. As the user/agent finds each item in the grocerylist, the user/agent can scan with the barcode scanner in step 534 thebarcode of the item to record its selection. While grocery shopping, thebarcode scanner can also present the user the food item suggestions ofstep 526, which if selected, can provide the user navigationinstructions for those items also. The GMS 130 can also organize thesuggestions so that their location coincide with the location of otheritems in the updated grocery list.

Once the user/agent has found all items of interest in the grocery list,the user/agent can present the barcode scanner in step 536 to afulfillment system such as a common point of sale (POS) terminal. Thebarcode scanner and the POS terminal can be communicatively coupled bywired or wireless technology for downloading the items selected and forcharging the user the groceries purchased using a credit card or debitcard. The POS terminal can also take into account coupons or promotionssupplied to the user by the GMS 130. When shopping is performed by anagent of the user, the agent can deliver the groceries to the user'sestablishment in step 538.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the communicationdevice receiving the updated grocery list in step 520 can be acommunication device of the user (such as a cellular phone). Thecellular phone can receive the updated grocery list over the cellularnetwork as a short message system (SMS) or multimedia message system(MMS) message, or some other suitable format of communication. The userof the cellular phone can navigate through the grocery store accordingto the selection order and location information provided in the updatedgrocery list. The user can then approach a POS terminal manned by aclerk for scanning the selected items.

In yet another embodiment, method 500 can be adapted so that it appliesto any kind of shopping list for any kind of store. Hence a shoppinglist can be created for any commodity or retail item. The raw shoppinglist can be modified according to a selection order determined from alocation of each item in a targeted store. The updated list can alsoinclude navigation instructions to assist a user in finding an itemwhile in the store. An updated shopping list such as this can improvethe shopping experience of the user.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both)), amain memory 704 and a static memory 706, which communicate with eachother via a bus 708. The computer system 700 may further include a videodisplay unit 710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system700 may include an input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 714 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 716, a signal generationdevice 718 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 720.

The disk drive unit 716 may include a machine-readable medium 722 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 724)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 724may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 704, the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702during execution thereof by the computer system 700. The main memory 704and the processor 702 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 724, or that which receives and executes instructions 724from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 726 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 726 using the instructions 724. Theinstructions 724 may further be transmitted or received over a network726 via the network interface device 720.

While the machine-readable medium 722 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A communication device, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupledto the memory, wherein the memory comprises computer instructions, whichwhen executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive one ormore selections of commodity items from a list of a plurality ofcommodity items; transmit the one or more selected commodity items to aserver; receive a shopping list generated by the server, wherein theshopping list identifies the one or more selected commodity items andone or more suggested commodity items proposed by the server and whereinthe shopping list is arranged by the server according to locations at ashopping premises housing items of the shopping list; and receive one ormore entries of scanned data corresponding to one or more barcodesassociated with one or more of the items of the shopping list present atthe shopping premises.
 2. The communication device of claim 1, whereinthe computer instructions cause the processor to further arrange theshopping list based on reducing ambient exposure time of at least one ofthe items of the shopping list.
 3. The communication device of claim 1,wherein the computer instructions cause the processor to transmit to apoint-of-sale terminal data associated with the one or more entries ofscanned data.
 4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein thecomputer instructions cause the processor to establish wirelesscommunications with at least one of the server or a point-of-saleterminal.
 5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the one ormore suggested commodity items proposed by the server are based at leastin part on a behavioral profile of a user associated with thecommunication device.
 6. The communication device of claim 1, whereinthe computer instructions cause the processor to: receive a request fromthe server for information associated with at least one of the one ormore selected commodity items or the one or more suggested commodityitems; capture at the communication device user information associatedwith the received request; and transmit the captured user information tothe server.
 7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the shoppinglist is generated by the server based at least in part on inventoryinformation associated with the shopping premises.
 8. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readableinstructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform operations comprising: receiving one or more selections ofcommodity items from a list of a plurality of commodity items;transmitting the one or more selected commodity items to a server;receiving a shopping list generated by the server, wherein the shoppinglist comprises the one or more selected commodity items arranged by theserver according to locations at a shopping premises housing items ofthe shopping list; and presenting navigation instructions to locate oneor more items of the shopping list according to one or more globalposition system coordinates of the one or more items of the shoppinglist relative to global position system coordinates of a communicationdevice.
 9. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein thecomputer instructions cause the processor to further arrange theshopping list based on reducing ambient exposure time of at least one ofthe items of the shopping list.
 10. The non-transitory storage medium ofclaim 8, wherein the shopping list further comprises one or moresuggested commodity items proposed by the server.
 11. The non-transitorystorage medium of claim 8, wherein the computer instructions cause theprocessor to present the navigation instructions to locate the one ormore items of the shopping list on a display associated with thecommunication device.
 12. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 8,wherein the computer instructions cause the processor to present thenavigation instructions to locate the one or more items of the shoppinglist as audible speech.
 13. The non-transitory storage medium of claim8, wherein the computer instructions cause the processor to receive oneor more entries of scanned data corresponding to one or more barcodesassociated with one or more of the items of the shopping list present atthe shopping premises.
 14. A method comprising: receiving from acommunication device one or more selections of commodity items from alist of a plurality of commodity items; providing to the communicationdevice one or more suggested commodity items based at least in part on abehavioral profile determined at least in part from activities monitoredat the communication device; generating a shopping list, wherein theshopping list comprises the one or more selected commodity items and atleast one of the one or more suggested commodity items, and wherein theshopping list is arranged according to relative locations of items ofthe shopping list at a shopping premises; and transmitting to thecommunication device the generated shopping list.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, comprising receiving at a point-of-sale terminal one or moreentries of scanned data captured at the communication devicecorresponding to one or more barcodes associated with one or more of theitems of the shopping list present at the shopping premises.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising arranging the shopping list basedon reducing ambient exposure time of at least one of the items of theshopping list.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the shopping list isgenerated based at least in part on inventory information associatedwith the shopping premises.
 18. The method of claim 14, comprisingfacilitating establishment of wireless communications with at least oneof the communication device or a point-of-sale terminal.
 19. The methodof claim 14, further comprising arranging the shopping list according toglobal positioning system coordinates of the items of the shopping listat the shopping premises.
 20. The method of claim 14, comprising:transmitting a request to the communication device for informationassociated with the one or more selected commodity items or the one ormore suggested commodity items; and receiving user information capturedat the communication device.